| Sigurd Leinæs Bøe | |
| Position: | Post. doc. DNK |
| Phone: | +47 2278 1786 |
| Email: | |
PNA molecules
In 1991, Nielsen, Egholm, Berg, and Buchardt synthesized a new completely artificial DNA/RNA analog in which the backbone is a pseudopeptide rather than a sugar. This new molecule was named peptide nucleic acid (PNA).
PNA consist of a backbone made of N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units linked by peptides bonds and bases (purines and pyrimidines) linked to the backbone by methylene carbonyl linkages. PNAs do not contain any pentose sugar moieties or phosphate groups.
The high thermal stability and resistance to proteases and nuclease make PNA's ideal reagents in an antigene or antisense studies. Resistance to degradation increase the half-life of the reagent in the cell or in cell culture media, and simultaneously decrease the dose required for inhibition. Their stronger binding properties should decrease the amount of antisense needed for the inhibition of gene expression. PNA's offer the additional advantage that PNA-peptide chimeras can be synthesized. Such combinations may offer additional mechanisms to target PNA's to specific locations.
Photochemical internalization (PCI) technology
The basis of the PCI technology is a light-induced rupture of endocytic vesicles, releasing endocytosed molecules into the cell cytosol, from where they can reach their intracellular target of action, realizing their therapeutic potential.
The PCI effect is achieved by the use of photosensitising compounds specifically localising in the membranes of endocytic vesicles, destroying these membranes by an oxidative process after illumination.
Demonstration of the principle in living cells
To view the distribution of PNA molecules without PCI, click here
To view the distribution of PNA molecules with PCI, click here
Microarrays
A high throughput robotic technique witch places tens of thousands of small spots of gene probes on glass slides, and can be used for gene activity monitoring on a genomic scale.
This technique will be a quantum leap in the study of transcriptional changes in tumours (and in disease in general), as well as for experimental studies.
Links
PNA link page
Armitage group
PNA synthesis (pdf)
PNA books
ISIS licensing
Gene therapy
Other Links:
The national microarray consortium
PCI Biotech
PubGene Inc.
Publications 2011
Light-directed delivery of nucleic acids
Methods Mol Biol, 764, 107-21
PubMed 21748636
A novel photosensitizer for light-controlled gene silencing
Nucleic Acid Ther, 21 (5), 359-67
PubMed 22004417
Publications 2010
Light-induced gene expression using messenger RNA molecules
Oligonucleotides, 20 (1), 1-6
PubMed 20038251
Cyclodextrin-containing polymer delivery system for light-directed siRNA gene silencing
Oligonucleotides, 20 (4), 175-82
PubMed 20645877
Publications 2008
Evaluation of various polyethylenimine formulations for light-controlled gene silencing using small interfering RNA molecules
Oligonucleotides, 18 (2), 123-32
PubMed 18637730
Publications 2007
Photochemically induced gene silencing using small interfering RNA molecules in combination with lipid carriers
Oligonucleotides, 17 (2), 166-73
PubMed 17638521
Publications 2006
Photochemically induced gene silencing using PNA-peptide conjugates
Oligonucleotides, 16 (2), 145-57
PubMed 16764538
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